A Very Happy New Year for Dominican Slugger Edwin Encarnacion

Though they were just a game short of a World Series title, the Indians finalized a $65 million, three-year contract with free agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion on Thursday.

Cleveland aggressively pursued the La Romana-born pelotero, who has averaged 39 homers over the past five seasons. Encarnacion hit 42 home runs and drove in 127 runs last season for the Toronto Blue Jays, who lost to the Indians in the American League Championship Series.

Encarnacion’s agreement is the largest in the Cleveland Indians’ history, surpassing a five year deal in 2007 with now NY Yankee Travis Hafner that added $57 million in guaranteed money and a $56 million, four-year contract with free agent Nick Swisher, now an Atlanta Brave, ahead of the 2013 season.